Detachment or the Art of Remaining Silent

"It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than open one's mouth and remove all doubt" - Abraham Lincoln

It's much easier to open your mouth and voice your opinion a soon as someone says something, rather than quietly listening without interrupting and without responding. And yet there is often more power in remaining silent than in talking, especially when you haven't had time to think things through properly. You often talk in a defensive way, and say things you regret later on. Just because you don't agree with someone doesn't mean you have to attack that person's judgment. Everyone is entitled to their ideas, and they don't necessarily have to match your own opinions. Maybe you would like to make others conform to YOUR view of the world, and how things should be. But there is a diversity you can't ignore, different ways of life that you might not approve of. Voicing your disapproval however won't change anything; it might only make things worse. 

Detachment is the art of remaining silence in view of a person or situation that you find annoying, frustrating or downright infuriating. Let others get on with their lives and have their own experiences. You can't stop them from making mistakes, even though you can see clearly that they're doing the wrong thing. Pointing out their shortcomings will only cause anger and mistrust. This is especially true if they're not ready to change or mend their ways. A classic example is the alcoholic or drug addict who is not prepared to give up his or her addiction. No matter what you say will only make them want to abuse the substance more, while blatantly denying they have a problem.  

You often think that you know everything, that your knowledge surpasses that of others. Real wisdom though means you can accept differences and don't try to convince others of your superiority. To remain silent requires analysis and self-control. To sit back and observe rather than blurt something out shows maturity and patience. It proves that you strive for peaceful solutions, instead of initiating conflict.

Why not try the silent approach today?

With love,
Bella

Painting: "Broken Silence" by Ross Young